‘A shift in political thinking’: many of New Zealand’s cities lurch right in local elections

Experts say the progressive vote is disillusioned with incremental changes brought in by Ardern Labour government

Late in the campaign period of Auckland's mayoral election came a spate of strange, oddly specific, billboard vandalism. As the race in New Zealand's most populous city wound to its conclusion, boardings for Efeso Collins, an independent progressive candidate and mayoral frontrunner, were plasteredwith red Labour" party logos.

Compared with the moustaches and monobrows that typically bedeck election billboards, it seemed an innocuous choice for vandals. But Collins' campaign said it was an act of politicised sabotage. None of our allies or volunteers have been doing it," a spokesperson told The Spinoff. We believe it's an attack tactic."